A Cessna 182 was reported missing on Sunday morning and authorities are trying to figure out if it is the same plane that is reported downed in the Angeles National Forest. FAA spokesperson Allen Kenitzer said the flight was headed to Santa Monica from San Diego and contact was lost about 17 miles east of Van Nuys. The downed plane was spotted close to Mount Wilson which is 20 miles east of Van Nuys.
Unfortunately the aerial search was complicated by heavy cloud cover though CBS news has reported that ground crews are trying to reach the aircraft.
The Cessna 182 is a twin-engine light airplane with four seats. It was introduced in 1956 and has been produced in multiple variants. Wikpedia reports it as being the second most popular Cessna model after the 172. Its body is primarily composed of an aluminium alloy with some parts, such as the wingtips, made up of fiberglass or thermoplastic material.
There is no word at this time on the fate of the pilot nor is there any information on whether there were other passengers on the plane.
Other Recent Cessna Crashes
On April 26th 2016 a Cessna plane crashed on take off from Foley Municipal Airport in Alabama. The aircraft lost power and impacted trees and residential terrain; parts of the aircraft was consumed in a post-impact fire but the only passenger, the pilot, was not injured.
Earlier this month, on May 5th, a Cessna 310 crashed at North Little Rock Municipal Airport. Two people were on the plane and one was reported dead.
And on May 12th, just a few days ago, ABC news reported that a Cessna 208 crashed with 17 skydivers, landing upside down in a vineyard. Luckily everyone seemed to have escaped with just minor cuts and scrapes.
On April 15th a small Cessna 172 crashed near Catalina Island; two occupants of the plane was hospitalized. FAA spokesperson Ian Gregor said that the flight crashed under “unknown circumstances”.
